Chapter 3

Serenity had returned home, and her sister couldn’t help but voice her worries. “Why are you back this late, Seren? Is the shop closed today?”

“I plan to go when it’s busy in the afternoon. Is Sonny awake yet?” Serenity inquired.

Sonny, Serenity’s young nephew, was currently navigating the challenges of his Terrible Twos.

“Not yet. The house is too quiet for him to be awake,” Liberty replied, a hint of relief in her voice.

As Serenity assisted with the laundry, she brought up the events of the previous night.

“Seren, your brother-in-law isn’t trying to push you out. He’s just dealing with a lot of stress. It’s not like I’m working,” Liberty explained, trying to clarify for her husband.

Despite Liberty’s reassurances, Serenity remained reserved, fully aware that her brother-in-law was subtly attempting to make her feel unwelcome.

Her brother-in-law held a well-paying managerial position at a firm. Liberty had met him during college, and they both worked at the same company before getting married. After their wedding, he lovingly told Liberty, “I’ll take care of you. Just stay at home and relax. I don’t want you to be worn out when the baby arrives.”

Believing she had found her ideal partner, Liberty decided to leave her job and embrace life as a housewife. A year later, she welcomed a beautiful son into their family, but her days quickly became consumed with childcare and household duties. The once-vibrant woman hardly had time to care for herself, let alone think about her figure or consider returning to the workforce.

Fast forward three years, and Liberty had transformed from a young, attractive woman into an overweight and disheveled housewife, struggling to find even a moment for herself.

Serenity, being five years younger than Liberty, had faced her own challenges. Their parents’ tragic passing in a car accident when Serenity was just ten had left the sisters leaning on each other for support.

Although the compensation from their parents’ accident was sufficient for the sisters to finish their studies, their grandparents from both sides sought a share of that money. With what little was left, the sisters had to…

scrimping and saving to make it through college.

With their grandparents taking over the family home, Serenity and her sister found themselves in the position of renting. Their renting days, however, came to a close when Liberty walked down the aisle.

Liberty held a deep affection for Serenity and discussed their living situation with her soon-to-be husband before tying the knot. He readily agreed to take both Liberty and Serenity as a package deal, but it wasn’t long before his underlying resentment began to surface.

“I’m sorry, Liberty. I feel like a burden to you,” Serenity confessed, her voice tinged with sadness.

“No, Seren, don’t think like that. Mom and Dad left us too soon. I’m all you’ve got,” Liberty reassured her sister.

Serenity felt a wave of emotion wash over her. Throughout her childhood, she had always relied on Liberty for support, and now it was her turn to be the pillar of strength for her sister.

After a moment of silence, Serenity pulled out her marriage license and presented it to Liberty. “I’m married, Liberty. I just signed the papers and came back to let you know. I’ll be packing up and moving out shortly.”

“You got married?!” Liberty exclaimed, her voice rising to an almost screeching pitch.

Staring at Serenity in disbelief, Liberty grabbed the marriage license for a closer look. There, alongside a stranger’s name, was her sister’s signature. Attached was a photo of the newlyweds.

“What’s going on, Serenity? I thought you didn’t even have a boyfriend!” Liberty demanded.

The man in the photo was quite handsome, but his piercing gaze and the harsh lines of his face suggested he might not be the easiest person to get along with.

On her way back, Serenity had concocted a story. “Actually, I’ve been in a relationship for a while now. His name is Zachary. He’s always been busy with work, which is why he never got the chance to meet you.”

“He proposed, and I said yes. Then we went to City Hall to get our marriage license. He’s…

“He’s a wonderful man, Liberty. He treats me well. Don’t worry, I’ll find my happily-ever-after.”

Liberty struggled to believe Serenity’s words. She had never heard of a boyfriend in her sister’s life, yet now Serenity claimed to be engaged, flaunting a ring on her finger.

Liberty suspected that Serenity must have overheard the argument from the previous night. Feeling emotional, Liberty’s eyes filled with tears as she said, “Seren, I told your brother-in-law that you covered the groceries. You are always welcome to stay with us.”

“There’s no rush for you to get married or to move out,” she added. Liberty had a feeling that Serenity hadn’t known her boyfriend for very long; otherwise, she wouldn’t have waited until now to share the news.

The sudden decision to obtain a marriage license seemed to stem from Liberty’s husband, who felt that Serenity was overstaying her welcome. It seemed that Serenity was eager to tie the knot before Liberty’s own marriage encountered any difficulties.

With a warm smile, Serenity tried to reassure her sister. “Liberty, this has nothing to do with you. My relationship with Zachary is solid. I have my happy ending, and I want you to be happy for me.”

Despite Serenity’s words, tears streamed down Liberty’s face. Serenity wrapped her arms around her sister, holding her until the tears subsided. She made a promise to Liberty, “I’ll visit you often. Zachary’s house is just a short ten-minute ride away on my e-bike in Brynfield.”

Curious, Liberty inquired, “What’s the situation with his family?”

With the marriage now official, Liberty had no choice but to accept it. She pressed further for details about her new brother-in-law.

Serenity admitted that she didn’t know much about the Yorks. Even though she had gotten to know Grandma May over the past three months, she had never pried into the family’s private matters. All she knew was that Zachary was the eldest son and had several younger brothers, along with a few cousins.

Zachary worked at a company in Wiltspoon.

He was thriving in life, owning both a house and a car, representing some of the finest companies. Serenity shared the limited information she had with her sister.

Liberty, upon learning that Zachary had no debt attached to the house, inquired, “That’s his prenuptial property. Seren, could you persuade him to include your name on the title deed?”

With her name on the deed, Serenity would at least have some protection.